Alert archive / Alabama / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 280, NWS Birmingham, AL
NWS Birmingham, AL issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 2, 1997, 3:28 PM CDT for Colbert County, Lauderdale County, Alabama. It was in force for 62 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- May 2, 1997, 3:28 PM CDT (20:28 UTC)
- Expired
- May 2, 1997, 4:30 PM CDT
- In force
- 62 min
- Issued by
- NWS Birmingham, AL
- Area
- Whole counties
Counties Colbert County, AL, Lauderdale County, AL
The radar
The Columbus AFB radar (KGWX), 115 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:28 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.
Open the radar archive at this moment
The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 4:26 PM CDT | Thunderstorm Wind 56 | Muscle Shoals, AL | A gust to 64 mph was recorded by the ASOS at the Muscle Shoals Airport. |
NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 3:00 PM CDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Nashville Metro, TN (KBNA), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 180 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2241 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 49 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 160 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 297 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KHSV 022027 RRA SVRHSV ALC033-077-022130- BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL 328 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 1997 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 430 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONSS... IN NORTH ALABAMA ...COLBERT COUNTY...LAUDERDALE COUNTY AT 325 PM CDT WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN HUNTSVILLE INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN LAUDERDALE COUNTY EXTENDING INTO NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI. THIS LINE WILL TRACK ACROSS LAUDERDALE COUNTY...AND INTO WESTERN COLBERT COUNTY. MOVEMENT WAS NORTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR. THIS STORM HAS HAD A HISTORY OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS. A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING. REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 2, 12:39 PM CDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
ALZ001>050-GAZ089-090-102-120-022200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1240 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 1997
... SEVERE WEATHER LIKELY ACROSS PARTS OF ALABAMA ...
... AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING ...
A STRONG STORM SYSTEM OVER THE CENTRAL PART OF THE UNITED
STATES IS EXPECTED TO BRING SEVERE WEATHER TO ALABAMA AND WEST
CENTRAL GEORGIA BEGINNING THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING INTO
SATURDAY MORNING. ALREADY ACROSS ALABAMA, STRONG SOUTHERLY WIND
WAS BLOWING AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH STRONGER GUSTS . THIS STRONG
SOUTHERLY WIND WILL SPREAD WARM, MOIST AIR ACROSS THE AREA
HELPING TO ENHANCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SEVERE WEATHER.
THE MAIN CULPRIT IS A STRONG AND DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM IN
THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES THAT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST-NORTHEAST
TODAY. JUST SHORTLY AFTER 12 NOON, THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER
IN NORMAN, OK, HAD ISSUED THE FIRST OF WHAT WILL BE A NUMBER OF
TORNADO WATCHES THAT INCLUDED MOST OF MISSISSIPPI. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALREADY DEVELOPING WITH NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICES TO ALABAMA'S WEST ISSUING WARNINGS.
FOR ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA, PEOPLE CAN EXPECT
SEVERE WEATHER FROM THIS AFTERNOON MAINLY ALONG THE WESTERN
BOUNDARY OF ALABAMA AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE EVENING INTO THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS OF SATURDAY. THE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING LARGE HAIL, DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH, DEADLY
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING, AND TORNADOES.
PEOPLE ACROSS ALL OF ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA ARE
URGED TO STAY INFORMED ABOUT THE WEATHER. WHEN A TORNADO WATCH
IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA, REVIEW SAFETY RULES SO THAT YOU'LL KNOW
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE FACED WITH AN APPROACHING TORNADO OR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM. ONCE A WATCH IS ISSUED, STAY ALERT FOR RAPIDLY
CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATIONS WILL BE MADE LATER THIS AFTERNOON
AND INTO THE EVENING. LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS, AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE WARNING PROCESS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSIDER EXTRA STAFFING FOR THE HOURS FROM
ABOUT 3 PM TO AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
THIS IS A ^POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER EVENT. PLEASE KEEP
INFORMED ABOUT THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION VIA
NOAA WEATHER RADIO BROADCASTS OR THROUGH COMMERCIAL TELEVISION
AND RADIO OUTLETS.Special weather statement, May 2, 12:40 PM CDT, 2 hours 48 minutes before
ALZ001>050-GAZ089-090-102-120-022200-
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
1240 PM CDT FRI MAY 2 1997
... SEVERE WEATHER LIKELY ACROSS PARTS OF ALABAMA ...
... AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING ...
A STRONG STORM SYSTEM OVER THE CENTRAL PART OF THE UNITED
STATES IS EXPECTED TO BRING SEVERE WEATHER TO ALABAMA AND WEST
CENTRAL GEORGIA BEGINNING THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING INTO
SATURDAY MORNING. ALREADY ACROSS ALABAMA, STRONG SOUTHERLY WIND
WAS BLOWING AT 15 TO 25 MPH WITH STRONGER GUSTS . THIS STRONG
SOUTHERLY WIND WILL SPREAD WARM, MOIST AIR ACROSS THE AREA
HELPING TO ENHANCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SEVERE WEATHER.
THE MAIN CULPRIT IS A STRONG AND DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM IN
THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES THAT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST-NORTHEAST
TODAY. JUST SHORTLY AFTER 12 NOON, THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER
IN NORMAN, OK, HAD ISSUED THE FIRST OF WHAT WILL BE A NUMBER OF
TORNADO WATCHES THAT INCLUDED MOST OF MISSISSIPPI. SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALREADY DEVELOPING WITH NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICES TO ALABAMAS WEST ISSUING WARNINGS.
FOR ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA, PEOPLE CAN EXPECT
SEVERE WEATHER FROM THIS AFTERNOON MAINLY ALONG THE WESTERN
BOUNDARY OF ALABAMA AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE EVENING INTO THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS OF SATURDAY. THE STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING LARGE HAIL, DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH, DEADLY
CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING, AND TORNADOES.
PEOPLE ACROSS ALL OF ALABAMA AND WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA ARE
URGED TO STAY INFORMED ABOUT THE WEATHER. WHEN A TORNADO WATCH
IS ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA, REVIEW SAFETY RULES SO THAT YOULL KNOW
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE FACED WITH AN APPROACHING TORNADO OR SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM. ONCE A WATCH IS ISSUED, STAY ALERT FOR RAPIDLY
CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
STORM SPOTTER ACTIVATIONS WILL BE MADE LATER THIS AFTERNOON
AND INTO THE EVENING. LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS, AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE WARNING PROCESS
ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSIDER EXTRA STAFFING FOR THE HOURS FROM
ABOUT 3 PM TO AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER EVENT. PLEASE KEEP
INFORMED ABOUT THE LATEST WEATHER CONDITIONS AND INFORMATION VIA
NOAA WEATHER RADIO BROADCASTS OR THROUGH COMMERCIAL TELEVISION
AND RADIO OUTLETS.The office that day
Everything else NWS Birmingham, AL issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 3:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Franklin | 56 min |
| May 2, 3:52 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 63 min |
| May 2, 4:16 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette | 64 min |
| May 2, 4:26 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence | 64 min |
| May 2, 4:31 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Winston | 64 min |
| May 2, 4:38 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Lauderdale | 52 min |
| May 2, 4:39 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Walker | 81 min |
| May 2, 4:47 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Limestone | 58 min |
| May 2, 4:50 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 35 min |
| May 2, 4:54 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Morgan | 66 min |
| May 2, 5:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Madison | 66 min |
| May 2, 5:15 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Winston | 35 min |
| May 2, 5:19 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Fayette | 31 min |
| May 2, 5:22 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Lamar | 48 min |
| May 2, 5:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cullman | 61 min |
| May 2, 5:36 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Marshall | 69 min |
| May 2, 5:39 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Jackson | 66 min |
| May 2, 5:46 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marion | 49 min |
| May 2, 5:50 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Marion | 50 min |
| May 2, 5:56 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Marion | 34 min |
| May 2, 6:06 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | DeKalb | 69 min |
| May 2, 6:09 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Winston | 51 min |
| May 2, 6:20 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Franklin, Lawrence | 55 min |
| May 2, 6:20 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Morgan | 55 min |
| May 2, 6:28 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Marion | 47 min |
| May 2, 6:40 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | BMX | Lamar, Marion | 45 min |
| May 2, 6:53 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Jackson, Marshall | 67 min |
| May 2, 6:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BMX | Cherokee | 23 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Alabama, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.